Time delay release device

ABSTRACT

This invention comprises a time delay release device which can be carried by a kite or similar aerial toy. The device consists of an elongated resilient material having at its ends a holding means such as a tongue and hole or pin and hole arrangement for releasably holding a line. Proximal to each of these ends is the time delay mechanism which consists of an adhesive means for holding the ends together. However, after a period of time when the resilient force of the elongated material exceeds the adhesive force, the ends separate and the article is released. The device can be reused, and when the adhesive force decreases due to wear the adhesive member is replaced. Velcro can be used in place of the adhesive member.

United States Patent [19] Kennedy [11] 3,873,051 [451 Mar. 25, 1975 TIME DELAY RELEASE DEVICE [76] Inventor: Rudolph S. Kennedy, 35 Maple Ave., New Providence, NJ. 07974 Primary Examiner-Trygve M. Blix Assistant Examiner-Paul E. Sauberer Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Joseph P. Nigon [57] ABSTRACT This invention comprises a time delay release device which can be carried by a kite or similar aerial toy. The device consists of an elongated resilient material having at its ends a holding means such as a tongue and hole or pin and hole arrangement for releasably holding a line. Proximal to each of these ends is the time delay mechanism which consists of an adhesive means for holding the ends together. However, after a period of time when the resilient force of the elongated material exceeds the adhesive force, the ends separate and the article is released. The device can be reused, and when the adhesive force decreases due to wear the adhesive member is replaced. Velcro can be used place of theadhesive member.

7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures TIME DELAY RELEASE DEVICE This invention relates to a time delay release device. More particularly this invention relates to a time delay release device which is lightweight and can be used in conjunction with aerial toys for the release of articles when the toy is airborne.

This invention provides an uncomplicated and light weight device and method for attaching articles to kites and other aerial toys whereby once the kite is airborne for a period of time the article will be released. This adds a new dimension of amusement to kites and other aerial toys. Besides being simple and lightweight in construction the release device can be reused indefinitely. This is another important feature. The article which is released can be a parachute, weight, marker, aerial glider or any other suitable device.

It is therefore a prime object of this invention to provide a time delay release device which is simple in construction, lightweight and reusable.

It is further an object of this invention to provide a time delay release unit for launching toy parachutes or the like from a kite.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a time delay toy launching mechanism which does not require complex release cords or other such mechanisms.

Briefly, the time delay release device consists ofan elongated strip of resilient material such as plastic which has at its ends, or proximal to the ends, means to hold the article such as a parachute which is to be released. This means can be a tongue on one end and as opening to receive the tongue on the other end or a pin on one end and an opening on the other end to receive the pin. Proximal to each of these ends is the time delay mechanism which consists of one or more apertures on each end of the elongated strip overlayed with an adhesive strip whereby when the resilient strip is flexed to position the ends adjacent to each other the adhesive on each end is in mutual contact thereby holding the ends together. This holds the article for later release when the resilient force of the elongated strip overcomes the adhesive force. The resilient force of the elongated strip is opposite the adhesive force and over a time duration exceeds the adhesive force, thereby allowing the ends of the elongated strip to separate and release the article.

The present invention will be further described by reference to the drawing in which FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the preferred embodiment showing the time delay release device fully assembled.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the elongated resilient strip of FIG. 1 prior to being assembled for use.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the device of FIG. 1 prior to full assembly.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the time delay release device wherein the article holding means consists of a pin on one end and hole to receive the pin on the other end.

In more detail and with further reference to FIG. 1, the elongated strip of resilient material comprises the basic structure of the device. This resilient'material is any material which on being at least partially folded on itself will regain its elongated condition absent a force keeping it in a folded condition. This material can be a plastic such as polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene, vinyl acetate or copolymers of these polymeric materials. Other thermoplastics such as rubbers, natural or synthetic, can also be used, as well as metals such as spring steels. The preferred materials, however, are thermoplastic materials. The thickness of the elongated strip may be from about l0 mils to mils. The end 11 of the elongated strip has a tongue 13 and the end 12 has an opening 14 which is adapted to receive the tongue. The part of the tongue which is between the ends when assembled by folding as in FIG. 1, holds the line 15 which is connected to the article that is to be subsequently released. The line 17 is the line which connects from the aerial toy such as a kite to the elongated resilient strip by means of hook 16 or an equivalent arrangement.

FIG. 2 illustrates the time delay release mechanism which is used. Each end of the elongated strip has one or more apertures. It is preferred that there be three apertures of varying diameters. The diameters of these apertures may range from about 0.25 inch to I inch. The apertures 18, 19 and 20 on end 11 are located about the same distance from the end 11 of the elongated strip as are apertures 21, 22 and 23 on end 12. These apertures are positioned in this manner so that when the elongated strip is folded on itself from its midpoint the holes on each end will coincide. That is, the holes on each end section will be in alignment when the elongated strip is folded on itself from about the midpoint. These apertures are overlayed with adhesive strips. Apertures 18, 19 and 20 are overlayed with adhesive strip 24 and apertures 21, 22 and 23 are overlayed with adhesive strip 25. The adhesive strips are applied to the same side ofthe elongated strip as hook 16. In this arrangement areas of the adhesive side of the adhesive strip are exposed by means of the apertures 18 through 23 so that the exposed adhesive can function as the time delay mechanism.

The operation of the time delay release mechanism can be better understood by reference to FIG. 3. This figure shows the device partially assembled. The resilient elongated strip 10 is partially folded over on itself. Tongue 13 is holding line 15 which goes to the article that is to be released. The adhesive on the adhesive strip is visible through apertures 18, 19 and 20. In order to complete the assembly shown in FIG. 3, the tongue 13 is inserted into opening 14 and one or more of the apertures on each end are pressed together so that the adhesived surfaces contact. This contact of one or more of the adhesive surfaces through the apertures provides the time delay feature. By securing the ends of the elongated strip together using one, two or three sets of apertures the amount of time delay can be adjusted. In FIG. 1 all three sets of the apertures are in contact thereby providing maximum time delay. When the resilient force of the elongated strip exceeds the adhesive force of the sets of apertures, the elongated strip goes back to a flat section withdrawing tongue 13 from opening 14 thereby releasing article line 15. The actual time delay is governed solely by the adhesive in contact through the apertures and can vary from about 2 minutes to 20 minutes depending on the adhesive and the size and number of apertures. There can also very operably be four or more sets of apertures.

The same adhesive strips can be used for several time delay releases. After about three or four releases the adhesive strips must be replaced. A paper adhesive tape such as masking tape can be used very effectively. However, various other tapes, including the cloth tapes, can be used. It is also possible to use Velcro in place of the adhesive strips. When Velcro is used it can be in many different configurations. The mode of functioning in order to provide the time delay will be the same no matter what configuration is used.

In FIG. 4 there is illustrated the embodiment of a pin 26 in place ofa tongue for holding the line to the article. The pin 26 is received in hole 27 when the ends of the elongated strip are aligned and the adhesive areas pressed to cause contact of the adhesive surfaces. It would then be in a configuration similar to FIG. 1.

In operation the line 17 fromthe kite or other aerial toy is attached to hook 16. The line 15 from the article,

to be released is overlayed the tongue or pin, and the tongue or pin inserted into opening 14 or hole 27 as the case may be. One or more sets of apertures are pressed in order to hold the ends together for a period of time. In this instance all three sets are pressed together, so this will provide about five minutes of delay before release of the article string. Upon release the article which was being held will then fall or glide to the ground. After reeling in the kite another article can be attached to the time delay release device and the kite again flown. This adds a new dimension of enjoyment to kite flying.

This specification sets out the preferred embodiments and features of the time delay release device. The invention therefore is claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A time delay release device comprising an elongated piece of resilient material the ends of said elongated material having adhesive means to hold an article and subsequently release said article after a defined time duration; said adhesive means which maintains said ends adjacent to each other consists of a series of apertures on each of said ends, and an adhesive strip overlaying said apertures on the same side of said piece of material whereby, when said ends are positioned ad- 5 jacent to each other and the adhesive strip overlaying said apertures on each end is pressed into common engagement, said ends will be maintained adjacent to each other until theresilient force of said resilient material overcomes the holding adhesive force, and thereby releases said article. i

2. A time delay release device as in claim 1 wherein there are at least three apertures on each end overlayed with adhesive strips.

3. A time delay release device as in claim 2 wherein said apertures have varying diameters.

4. A time delay release device as in claim 3 wherein intermediate said ends is means to attach said device to a carrier apparatus.

5. A time delay release device as in claim 4 wherein said carrier apparatus is a kite.

6. A time delay release device as in claim 1 wherein said article holding means includes a pin on one of said ends and an opening to receive said pin on the other of said ends.

7. A time delay release device as in claim 6 wherein said adhesive means which maintains said ends adjacent to each other consists of a series of apertures on each of said ends, and an adhesive strip overlaying said apertures on the-same side of said piece of material whereby, when said ends are positioned adjacent to each other and the adhesive strip overlaying said apertures on each end is pressed into common engagement, said ends will be maintained adjacent to each other until the resilient force of said resilient material overcomes the holding adhesive force. 

1. A time delay release device comprising an elongated piece of resilient material the ends of said elongated material having adhesive means to hold an article and subsequently release said article after a defined time duration; said adhesive means which maintains said ends adjacent to each other consists of a series of apertures on each of said ends, and an adhesive strip overlaying said apertures on the same side of said piece of material whereby, when said ends are positioned adjacent to each other and the adhesive strip overlaying said apertures on each end is pressed into common engagement, said ends will be maintained adjacent to each other until the resilient force of said resilient material overcomes the holding adhesive force, and thereby releases said article.
 2. A time delay release device as in claim 1 wherein there are at least three apertures on each end overlayed with adhesive strips.
 3. A time delay release device as in claim 2 wherein said apertures have varying diameters.
 4. A time delay release device as in claim 3 wherein intermediate said ends is means to attach said device to a carrier apparatus.
 5. A time delay release device as in claim 4 wherein said carrier apparatus is a kite.
 6. A time delay release device as in claim 1 wherein said article holding means includes a pin on one of said ends and an opening to receive said pin on the other of said ends.
 7. A time delay release device as in claim 6 wherein said adhesive means which maintains said ends adjacent to each other consists of a series of apertures on each of said ends, and an adhesive strip overlaying said apertures on the same side of said piece of material whereby, when said ends are positioned adjacent to each other and the adhesive strip overlaying said apertures on each end is pressed into common engagement, said ends will be maintained adjacent to each other until the resilient force of said resilient material overcomes the holding adhesive force. 